What could be better than a weekend in Lakeside, Ohio at Youth Annual Conference? Students grades 6 through 12 from all over the East Ohio Conference will gather to develop leadership skills, participate in mission, have fun, and grow in their relationship with God and with their youth group. If you register today, the cost is just $50 which includes housing and meals. YAC is June 9 - 11. Look for more info in the June Good Word magazine. Information about breakouts, speakers, and entertainment here!

Mission Opportunity

At Youth Annual Conference, our students will join others in completing a number of Mission Moments. Among them, making cards for patients at the Cleveland VA hospital, spreading God's love through rock painting, writing messages in books to be shared at area homeless shelters and soup kitchens, packing kits for weary parents at Ronald McDonald House, and stuffing socks with care items for the homeless. Churches from each district are asked to support this effort by donating items for these missions. We have been asked to bring:

travel sized deodorant/hand sanitizer

gently used books (for all ages)

materials for friendship bracelets (string, beads, etc.)

Would you like to help? We will have a donation basket in the first floor coat room. Bring your items there, or to the church office, by June 8. Thank you!

If you ordered tickets for the Akron Rubber Ducks vs. Reading Fightin’ Phils on Friday, June 2, they have arrived. Pick yours up after service on Sunday in the Parlor, or stop by the church office during office hours (Mon-Thurs 8:30 - 4:30 or Friday 8:30 to 12:30.)

Engage: Faith. Family. Friendship. Fun! Saturday, June 3

In June, ENGAGE will focus on human dignity. We will come together to talk about our value as children of God and our responsibility to communicate that value to our brothers and sisters of every race, orientation, status or background. As part of our worship, we will pack human dignity (toiletry) kits for individuals affected by poverty or natural disaster. We will also design materials to accompany our summer Liberia team to Africa! Help us ENGAGE the community by inviting friends and family for fun activities, worship and a tasty, healthy meal on Saturday, June 3, at 4:00pm. RSVP on our Facebook Event page for updates!

Lunch Bunch, Tuesday, May 6 at Noon

The church staff is preparing lunch and we want you to join us in Fellowship Hall for a Salad and Sandwich buffet. It's free if you RSVP! Simply reply to this e-mail, call the office, or sign up at church on Sunday.

Habitat Neighborhood Spruce Up Day, Friday, June 9. We have room for a few more volunteers to work along Habitat for Humanity Staff and other church volunteers to spruce up the Puritas neighborhood from 8:30 until around 3 pm. We’ll be repairing fences, staining, painting, and sprucing up landscaping. Want to help? Tell Joy! outreach@brecksvilleumc.com.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank

How many seniors were eligible for food assistance in Cuyahoga County in 2014? An astonishing 68,000. Volunteers are crucial to the work of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and we can help fill that need. Join our team of workers on Saturday, June 10. Click here for details about our work day here. To register, visit this link and use this case sensitive code: tVQaBe.

Church Women United Spring Tour of Churches, June 12.

7:45 am pick up at the Islamic Center, W. 130th Street, Parma. Lunch at Hartville Kitchen. Tickets are $30 (does not include lunch.)

Respond to this e-mail or contact Nancy Knowlton at 440-838-4341 to RSVP!

Summer Cereal Round Up.

The summer months are tough ones for some families in Cleveland who rely on the public school system or other programs to help feed their children. To help combat this problem, our focus for the Brookside Food Center collection turns to cereal. Can we collect 50 boxes by June 15? If you're moved to help, bring your donation to the collection bin in the first floor coat room. Thank you! (And thank you all for your generous donations to the feminine hygiene drive!)

Pre-School Bible Story Hour, Monday, June 19 at 10 am in the Chapel. Pre-schoolers are invited to come, with their caregiver, to hear the awesome story of Noah’s Ark. We will celebrate God’s love for us and promise to care for us. We’ll hear stories, sing songs, and make some fun rainbow crafts. As always, everyone is welcome. Hope you’ll join us

ReachOut Camp 2017, July 9-15. Are you a student interested in missions, growing community, and having fun on the shores of Lake Erie this summer? ReachOut is for you! No matter where you are in your faith journey, you are sure to encounter God’s love in a new way. Dana and Jamie are on staff and would love to bring some students along, contact Dana (youth@brecksvilleumc.com) to sign up today!

Register Now for Hero Central Vacation Bible School!

July 17 - 21

Soar with us at Hero Central Vacation Bible School! It's filling up fast! This superhero adventure includes music that makes you want to get up and dance, interactive Bible fun, super science, cool crafts, delicious snacks, great games and more. Together we will explore how we can 'power-up' and discover our strength in God! Learn more and register...

Monday 07/17/2017 through Friday 07/21/2017, 9 am - 12 pm each day. For kids in Pre-school through Fifth Grade. Childcare available for little ones under 3 if you volunteer!

Stick to the Script: 5 days of acting out our faith in new and sticky ways

July 17-21, 2017

Ahhh, summer! A time of no homework, fun with friends, new adventures… and getting sticky?Join us for Middle School VBS this year and you’ll get what we mean! For five days we will be playing messy games, getting to know each other better and exploring different ways we can make a difference. Learn more...

Recycle Paper. Fight Hunger! In March, we recycled 6,930 pounds of paper at Brecksville United Methodist Church. What does that mean? We earned $103.95 for our hunger ministry. We saved the equivalent of 58.91 trees, 24,255 gallons of water, and 14,206 kilowatts of electricity. What's more, we freed up 11.43 cubic yards of landfill space. Way to go! Remember, if it's paper, bring it to the bin!

Thursday, May 25 Paper Recycling Pick Up Day

Herzing & Lundholm Mowing

Friday, May 26

9:30 UMW Board Meeting, Parlor

Saturday, May 27 No events scheduled in the building.

8:30 Summer Run Group, Station Road Trailhead

Sunday, May 28

10:00 One Worship Service!

Monday, May 29 Memorial Day. Church offices closed.

10:00 Brecksville Memorial Day Parade

Tuesday, May 30 Pantry Painting Continues This Week

10:00 Staff Meeting, 201

6:00 Summer Run Group, Station Road Bridge

Wednesday, May 31

6:30 (a.m.) Dawnbreakers Breakfast, FH

Thursday, June 1—Last Day of School, BBHCSD

Paper Recycling Pick Up

Parker and Spencer Mowing

10:00 UMW Field Trip to Aviation Museum

Friday, June 2

7:015 BUMC at the Ballpark: Rubber Ducks, Akron

Saturday, June 3

8:30 Summer Run Group, Station Road Bridge

4:00 Engage: Faith. Family. Friendship. Fun!

Sunday, June 4— Summer Worship Times Begin

Communion Sunday. Graduation Sunday.

8:30 Worship on the Lawn

Commissioning Youth Service Project Team

10:00 Worship in the Sanctuary

Graduate Recognition

Our Welcoming Statement

Brecksville United Methodist Church is called to the ministry of reconciliation. We embrace diversity as a gift. We celebrate our human family’s diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, faith history, economic status, marital status, physical and mental ability, and education. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and as beloved children of God, all are worthy of God’s love and grace. We welcome the full inclusion of all people in the life and ministries of Brecksville United Methodist Church as we journey toward reconciliation through Christ.

Want some good news? In this new feature, we'll feature a few links to cheer you every week in The Sunday Blast. Have some good news to share? Send it to Melanie office@brecksvilleumc.com